Filmmakers

POV offers a wealth of resources for filmmakers, including video interviews with master nonfiction storytellers, articles with filmmaking tips, and news about funding and calls for entries.

New! The Documentary Filmmaking Equipment Survey

We asked documentary filmmakers to share what they're actually using in the field and then compiled the results to help you make decisions about cameras, lenses, audio and more. View the results »

POV Hackathon

Re-invent the documentary for the web! Since 2012, POV's lab has fostered the creation of web-native documentary prototypes. View the prototypes » | Apply »

Watch These!

Michael Apted (56 Up) talks about the genesis of the Up series and why it has worldwide appeal.

Documenting Power: POV Filmmakers at the Paley Center: How have documentaries changed our conception of politics? Throughout its illustrious history POV has been committed to dissecting political issues and illuminating the electoral process. At the Paley Center for Media, filmmakers Marshall Curry, Shola Lynch, Laura Poitras and Marco Williams, along with critic Caryn James, discussed how to cover the politcal system and gain access to it.

Linklater, Like Flaherty Before HimFrom Nanook of the North by filmmaker Robert Flaherty. Robert Flaherty and Richard Linklater are on opposite sides of the same film can. Flaherty, whose 131st birthday would have been this Monday, February 16th, is, of course, one of the pioneers of documentary film. We’ll get to Linklater, the director from Texas who made last
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Upcoming Events and Deadlines

POV believes in presenting the work of filmmakers — both emerging and established — that reflect experiences not commonly represented on television, offer a springboard for discussion and provide a deeper understanding of the world we live in.

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Submit Your Film

The POV Call for Entries (CFE) for the 2015 broadcast season is now closed. The deadline was June 30, 2014.

To be notified when the next CFE launches, sign up for thePOV Newsletter.

POV HackathonTeams of filmmakers and developers are challenged to create web documentary prototypes over two days of intense collaboration. Apply »

RECENT FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES

The Diverse Voices Project IV (DVP), with up to $100,000 in co-production funding available to emerging filmmakers, is POV's initiative to support stories about diverse communities produced by emerging makers. Find out more »

The Project VoiceScape call for entries is now closed. Adobe Youth Voices, PBS and POV are searching for the next generation of documentary filmmakers! Winners were announced in April 2011. Find out more »

The POV | Alpha Cine Award was awarded to a documentary filmmaker whose work was selected to Air on the POV series. The award was given in 2010. Find out more »

Resources for Filmmakers

Find out more about the variety of funding, festival, and engagement opportunities available for independent producers.